Syracuse defensive end Brandon Sharpe is the Big East’s Defensive Player of the Week after a dominant, breakout performance on Friday night against Pittsburgh.

The senior was an absolute force on the Orange’s front four, finishing with seven tackles, including four sacks of Panthers quarterback Tino Sunseri. Six of his tackles were for a loss of 45 yards.

In a game where Syracuse’s defense put on a clinic while the team’s offense shut down after the first quarter, Sharpe was a major factor in Pittsburgh’s paltry 27 rushing yards.

Sharpe was largely responsible for ending Pittsburgh’s final drive of the game.

With the score at 14-13, Sunseri and the Panthers’ offense were marching down the field midway through the fourth quarter. Pittsburgh got to Syracuse’s 17, but then Sharpe came up with a huge sack of Sunseri for a loss of 15 yards for the Panthers. That led to a 2nd-and-25 for Pitt, and a sack from Brandon Reddish that took Pitt back another nine yards and an incomplete pass from Sunseri finished off the drive.

This is Sharpe’s first season as a starter. The most total tackles he’s ever had in one season is 20. He already has 17 through five games this season.

Sharpe is second in the Big East in sacks, and third in tackles for loss. He’s also 12th in the nation in sacks, and tied for 23rd in the nation in tackles for loss.

On an already strong defensive line, Sharpe broke out Friday to give the Orange a dominant defensive effort.

Published on October 8, 2012 at 11:54 am

Contact Chris: cjiseman@syr.edu | @chris_iseman